Recreational Collapsible Tent

ABSTRACT

A tent comprises a fabric portion, a hub, pole assemblies, and slip members. The pole assemblies can be adjusted between fully extended and collapsed configurations. The upper end of each pole assembly is connected to the hub and the lower end is configured and adapted to releasably connect to a respective one of the corners of the fabric portion. Each of the slip members is connected to the fabric portion and slideably connected to a respective one of the pole assemblies. Each of the pole assemblies is configured and adapted such that the slip member can slide only along a portion of the pole assembly. The slip members and the pole assemblies are configured and adapted to spread the corners of the fabric portion apart from each other as the pole assemblies are being adjusted from the collapsed configuration to the fully extended configuration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 to the priorityof Chinese patent application No. 201420495979.X, filed Aug. 29, 2014,and entitled Tent, the disclosure of which is incorporated into thisspecification and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains generally to the field of outdoor goods,and more particularly, to recreational tents.

2. General Background

As outdoor recreation has become popular with a majority of people, theoutdoor recreation industry experiences a rapid growth year to year.Spring outings are a popular form of outdoor recreation. Tents are oftenutilized during lengthy outdoor outings.

Typically, tents are folded up by users themselves after use. There aretwo main types of tents on the market. One type is the kind where thetent poles are detached from the pliable tent fabric at some pointduring the process of opening up and packing up the tent. With suchtents, it is often necessary to pass the tent poles through sleevesand/or hang hooks attached to the tent fabric from the poles. Thus, theopen-up and pack-up time of such tents is relatively long and involvescumbersome steps. However, such tents are relatively stable and low incost. The other main type of tents is referred to as a fast-open tent.The tent poles of fast-open tents remain attached to the tent fabricthroughout the process of opening up and packing up the tent. Thus,comparatively, the opening up and packing up of fast-open tents involvesfar fewer steps, and is therefore much quicker and simpler. However,fast-open tents typically comprise many articulating parts such asextension tubes and hinges that allow the tent poles and tent fabric tobe conveniently folded without detaching the poles from the tent fabric.As a result, fast-open tents generally cost more to produce than do mostnon-fast-open tents.

In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that there is a needin the industry for a low cost fast-open tent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for a fast-open tent that is relativelycheaper to produce compared to prior art fast-open tents.

In one aspect of the invention, a tent comprises a pliable fabricportion, an upper pole hub, a plurality of adjustable tent poleassemblies, and a plurality of slip members. The fabric portioncomprises a base having corners. The tent pole assemblies can beadjusted between fully extended and collapsed configurations. Each ofthe pole assemblies has an upper end connected to the pole hub and alower end that is configured and adapted to releasably connect to arespective one of the corners of the fabric portion. The pole assembliesand the pole hub collectively are configured and adapted to suspend thefabric portion therefrom when the lower ends of the pole assemblies areconnected to the corners of the fabric portion. Each of the slip membersis connected to the fabric portion and slideably connected to arespective one of the pole assemblies. Each of the pole assemblies isconfigured and adapted such that the slip member can slide only along aportion of the pole assembly. The slip members and the pole assembliesare configured and adapted to spread the corners of the fabric portionapart from each other as the pole assemblies are being adjusted from thecollapsed configuration to the fully extended configuration.

In another aspect of the invention, a tent comprises a pliable fabricportion, an upper pole hub, a plurality of adjustable tent poleassemblies, and a plurality of connection mechanisms. The fabric portioncomprises a base having corners. The pole assemblies can be adjustedbetween fully extended and collapsed configurations. Each of the poleassemblies has an upper end connected to the pole hub and a lower endthat is configured and adapted to releasably connect to a respective oneof the corners of the fabric portion. The pole assemblies and the polehub collectively are configured and adapted to suspend the fabricportion therefrom when the lower ends of the pole assemblies areconnected to the corners of the fabric portion. Each of the connectionmechanisms comprises a pole end cap and a capture member. The capturemember comprises a keyhole opening having a large portion and a slottedportion that collectively form the keyhole opening. The pole end capsare configured to be adapted to pass at least partially into the keyholeopening through the large portion of the keyhole opening and tothereafter pass into the slotted portion of the keyhole opening in amanner such that the pole cap cannot be removed from the capture memberwithout first passing the pole cap from the slotted portion of thekeyhole opening and back into the large portion of the keyhole opening.Each of the pole caps is fixed to the lower end of a respective one ofthe pole assemblies. Each of the capture members is fixed to arespective one of the corners of the fabric portion. Each of the poleassemblies is releasably connectable to a respective one of the cornersof the fabric portion by a respective one of the pole caps and arespective one of the capture members.

Preferably, each of the pole assemblies comprises multiple pole segmentsthat are foldable relative to each other. A lowermost one of the polesegments of each pole assembly forms the lower end of the respectivepole assembly. The tent comprises a plurality of slip members. Each ofthe slip members is connected to the fabric portion and slideablyconnected to a respective one of the pole assemblies. Each of the poleassemblies is configured and adapted such that the slip member can slideonly along the lower pole segment of a respective one of the poleassemblies. And, the slip members and the pole assemblies are configuredand adapted to spread the corners of the fabric portion apart from eachother as the pole assemblies are being adjusted from the collapsedconfiguration to the fully extended configuration.

Optionally, the pole segments of each of the pole assemblies areconnected to each other and foldable relative to each other via a shockcord.

Alternatively, the pole segments of each of the pole assemblies areconnected to each other and foldable relative to each other via afixed-plane hinge between each adjacent pair of the pole segments.

Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as theoperation of the invention, are described in detail below with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings depict various embodiments of the invention and portionsthereof. However, it should be appreciate by those skilled in the artthat the present invention is applicable to various other tentembodiments and portions thereof.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a tent in accordance with theinvention, and shows said tent in its open configuration.

FIG. 2 is another schematic diagram of the tent shown in FIG. 1, andshows said tent laid flat during the process of transitioning the tentbetween its packed and open configuration.

FIG. 3 is yet another schematic diagram of the tent shown in FIGS. 1 and2, and shows said tent between its configuration shown in FIG. 2 and itspacked configuration.

FIG. 4 is another schematic diagram of the tent shown in FIGS. 1-3, andshows said tent between its configuration shown in FIG. 3 and its packedconfiguration.

FIG. 5 is another schematic diagram of the tent shown in FIGS. 1-4 andshows said tent in its packed configuration.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lowermost connection mechanismprovided at one corner of the base of a tent in accordance with theinvention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tent in accordance with the invention,which comprises two upper pole hubs.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a lowermostconnection mechanism provided at one corner of the base of a tent inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a shock cord type of hinge connectingtent pole segments.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a fixed-plane type of hinge connectingtent pole segments.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment of aconnection mechanism provided at one corner of the base of a tent inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the pole end cap of the connectionmechanism shown in FIG. 11.

Reference numerals in the written specification and in the drawingfigures indicate corresponding items.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

As is show in the figures, a tent 20 in accordance with the inventioncomprises a pliable fabric portion 22, at least one upper pole hub 24oriented above the fabric portion, and a plurality of collapsible tentpole assemblies 26. The collapsible tent pole assemblies 26 areconnected to the fabric portion 22 and extend radially from the upperpole hub(s) 24. At least some of the tent pole assemblies 26 extend downand have bottom ends 28 that are releasably connectable to the lowercorners of the fabric portion 22 of the tent 20. A tent 20 may comprisejust one pole hub 24 (as shown in FIGS. 1-5) or a tent may comprisemultiple pole hubs (as shown in FIG. 7), with said multiple pole hubsbeing connected to each other by one or more poles or pole assemblies.Regardless, the fabric portion 22 of the tent 20 is supported upright bythe pole assemblies 26 and pole hub(s) 24 when the bottom ends 28 of thepole assemblies are connected to the lower corners of the fabricportion. The tent 20 preferably comprises a slip member 30 that isslideably connected to each pole assembly 26 and that is also fixed tothe fabric portion 22 near the respective lower corner of the fabricportion. As explained below, the slip connections allow the lowercorners of the fabric portion 22 to slide up and down their respectivepole assemblies 26 when packing or unpacking the tent 20. The slipmembers 30 can be of various forms including, but not limited to rings,G-hooks, and fabric sleeves.

When the tent 20 is in its packed configuration, the bottom ends 28 ofthe pole assemblies 26 are detached from bottom corners of the fabricportion 22. In the packed configuration, the fabric portion 22 of thetent 20 is flooded in over itself around the folded pole assemblies 26and pole hub(s) 24 as shown in FIG. 5.

In order to adjust the tent 20 from its packed configuration to its openconfiguration, the fabric portion 22 is unfolded and the pole assemblies26 are straightened out over the unfolded fabric portion, as shown instages from FIGS. 4 to 2. As is shown in FIG. 2, when the poleassemblies 26 have been fully straightened out over the fabric portion22, the slip members 30 ensure that the fabric portion spreads outproperly and yet allow the pole assemblies to extend beyond the cornersof the fabric portion (which they obviously need to do when laid flat).The tent 20 is then propped up by propping up the pole assemblies 26 andattaching the bottom ends 28 of the pole assemblies to the bottomcorners of the fabric portion via easy-to-operate connection mechanisms32 (explained in greater detail below). Thus, although simple inconstruction, the tent 20 can be unpacked and opened very quickly andwith minimal effort. Furthermore, the tent 20 avoids the use of lockingextension tubes, which some campers have difficulty understanding andoperating.

Furthermore, it also avoids the problem in the prior art that users mayfeel unsmooth due to adoption of extension tubes of mutual friction.

As mentioned above, the tent 20 comprises a connection mechanism 32 forreleasably connecting the bottom ends 28 of the pole assemblies 26 tothe lower corners of the fabric portion 22 of the tent. The connectionmechanism 32 preferably comprises a pole end-cap 34 at the bottom end ofthe pole assembly 26 and a capture member 36 attached to the respectivelower corner of the fabric portion 22 of the tent 20. Of course, otherconnection mechanisms 32 for releasably connecting the bottom ends 28 ofthe pole assemblies 26 to the lower corners of the fabric portion 22 ofthe tent 20 could be used. As shown in FIG. 6, the pole end-cap 34 maycomprise a necked portion 40 adapted to fit through a circular capturehole 42 of the capture member 36. In that embodiment, the diameter ofthe lower pole or some portion of the end-cap 34 of the pole assembly 26is larger than the capture hole 42. As such, it should be appreciatedthat the pole assembly 26 can quickly and easily be attached to anddetached from the respective lower corner of the fabric portion 22 ofthe tent 20 by inserting and withdrawing the necked portion 40 of theend-cap 34 into and out of the capture hole 42 of the capture member 36.

More preferably than shown in FIG. 6, the connection mechanism 32 maycomprise a pole end-cap 34 at the bottom end of the pole assembly 26 anda capture member 36 attached to the respective lower corner of thefabric portion 22 of the tent 20 configured as shown in FIGS. 8, 11, and12 (with the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 being an improvement over thesimilar embodiment of FIG. 8). In such embodiments, the end-cap 34preferably has cylindrical recesses 44 configured to receive the end ofthe lower pole of a pole assembly 26. The opposite end of the poleend-cap 34 preferably comprises both a necked portion 40 and a nubportion 46. The capture member 36 comprises a keyhole opening 48 passingtherethrough. The keyhole opening 48 has a generally round portion 50and a connected narrower slotted portion 52. The round portion 50 of thekeyhole opening 48 is large enough to allow the nub portion 46 of theend-cap 34 to pass therethrough. However, the slotted portion 52 of thekeyhole opening 48 only permits the necked portion 40 of the end-cap 34to pass therethrough. Thus, a pole assembly 26 can be attached to thecapture member 36 by inserting the nub portion 46 of the end-cap 34through the round portion 50 of the keyhole opening 48 and thereafterallowing the spring force of the pole assembly to drive the neck portion40 of the end-cap into the slotted portion 52 of the capture member.Once in the slotted portion 52, the end-cap 34, and therefore the poleassembly 26 too, cannot be separated simply by pulling upward on thepole assembly relative to the capture member 36. Instead, the end-cap 34first has to be forced back into the round portion 50 of the keyholeopening 48 of the capture member 36.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the capture member 36 preferably comprisestie slots 54 for attaching pliable straps 56 to the opposite ends of thecapture member. The strap 56 farthest from the slotted portion 52 of thekeyhole opening 48 is also attached to the fabric portion 22 of the tent20, thereby attaching the capture member 36 to the fabric portion. Theother strap 56 is configured to be attached to a tent stake (not shown)to hold down the corners of the tent 20. Preferably there are two tieslots 54 (as shown in FIG. 11) for the stake strap 56 to allow the stakestrap to be tightened. The capture member 36 also preferably comprises awire clip 58 (as shown in FIG. 11) for attaching a tie-down for anoptional tent fly (not shown). Still further, as shown in FIG. 11, thecapture member 36 is preferably configured such that the top of theslotted portion 52 of the keyhole opening 48 lies on a sloped surface 60that oriented perpendicular to the angle of the bottom end 28 of thepole assembly 26 it secures. Additionally, the end of the capture member36 closest to the fabric portion 22 of the tent 20 is preferably angledupwards slightly where the tent strap 56 is attached.

Each of the pole assemblies 26 of the tent 20 preferably comprise polesegments 62 that are selectively and foldably connected to each othervia hinges 64. The pole segments 62 are preferably fiberglass or carbonfiber pole segments, but could also be made from other lightweightmaterials such as aluminum. The hinges 64 may be simple shock cord hingeconnections 66 of the type shown in FIG. 9. The operation of such shockcord hinge connections 66 is well known in the camping industry andtherefore is not described herein in further detail. The hinges 64 mayalso be 180 degree fixed-plane hinges 68, like the hinges shown in FIG.10 (which are also well known in the art). Fixed-plane hinges 68 arepreferable since they ensure that the pole segments 62 can only befolded in the proper direction. Preferably, each pole assembly 26comprises only three pole segments 62 connected to each other via twohinges 64. The uppermost pole segment 62 of each pole assembly 26 isalso foldably attached to the, or one of the, upper pole hub(s) 24 ofthe tent 20 such that it is able to pivot at least ninety degreesrelative to the pole hub.

With fixed-plane hinges 68, all the hinges 64 and the upper pole hub(s)24 can be configured such that the pole segments can only be folded overeach other in the direction shown in the figures. When the tent 20 is inits open configuration, the fabric portion 22 of the tent will bend thepole assemblies 26 and pole segments 62 in the opposite direction. Assuch, the fixed-plane hinges 68 need not be lockable in an open positionsince they will be held open by the bending force. Thus, such a tent 20can only be folded and packed after the bending forces have beenrelieved by detaching the pole assemblies from the lower connectionmembers 32.

The pole assemblies 26 can also be configured to fold in the oppositedirection from that described above. However, it should be appreciatedthat the hinges 64 of tent 20 in that case would have to be lockableopen in some manner so that they do not fold when the fabric portion 22acts to cause the pole assemblies 26 to bend. Shock cord hingeconnections 66 are one example of such lockable hinges 64 since theyprevent folding in any direction unless the pole segments 62 are firstpulled apart.

The lowermost hinge 64 of each pole assembly 26 is preferably configuredto limit the upward slip of the respective slip member 30 along the poleassembly. During the process of collapsing and packing the tent 20,limiting the slip members 30 from sliding beyond the lowermost hinges 64ensures that fabric portion 22 of the tent does not simply retract intoa disheveled pile. In other words, as the pole assemblies 26 are laidflat, the slip members 30 will still pull the corner portions of thefabric portion 22 of the tent 20 such that the fabric portion spreadsout flat. The slip members 30 and their limited slip travel also ensurethat the fabric portion 22 will fold about the pole. assemblies when thepole segments 62 are being folded (see FIGS. 3 and 4). Thus, the slipmembers 30 make collapsing and packing the tent 20 simple and easy.

Like the lowermost hinges 64, the pole caps 34 or bottom ends 28 of thepole assemblies 26 are also configured to limit the slip of the slipmembers 30, but in an opposite direction. This prevents any slip member30 from sliding off of its respective pole assembly 26.

A tent 20 in accordance with the invention also preferably comprises aplurality of clasps 70 attached to the fabric portion 22 that arereleasably attachable to the pole assemblies 26 and that hold the fabricportion 22 up when the tent is open. The clasps 70 are attached to thepole assemblies 26 when the tent 20 is being opened after the bottomends 28 of the pole assemblies 26 have been attached to the fabricportion 22 via the connection mechanisms 32. Conversely, the clasps 70are preferably detached from the pole assemblies 26 when the tent 20 isbeing collapsed prior to detaching the bottom ends 28 of the poleassemblies 26 from the fabric portion 22. However, the clasps 70 couldalso be non-releasably attached to the pole assemblies 26 and the fabricportion 22.

Regardless of whether the clasps 70 are detached from the poleassemblies 26 during the process of collapsing the tent 20, the processof folding the tent preferably begins by first detaching the bottom ends28 of the pole assemblies 26 from the fabric portion 22 of the tent viathe connection mechanisms 32. That allows the pole assemblies 26 to layflat, as shown in FIG. 2. Next, the lowermost pole segments 62 of eachof the pole assemblies 26 are folded over and against the middle polesegment of the respective pole assembly, as shown in FIG. 3. Then, themiddle and lowermost pole segments 62 are folded over the uppermost polesegments, as shown in FIG. 4. Finally, all the pole segments 62 arepivoted upward relative to the pole hub(s) 24 until they are generallyparallel to each other, thereby completed the packing process as shownin FIG. 5. As discussed above, during this whole process, the slipmembers 30 ensure that the fabric portion 22 folds with and about thepole assemblies when the pole segments 62 are being folded.

In view of the foregoing, it should be appreciated that the inventionhas several advantages over the prior art.

As various modifications could be made in the constructions and methodsherein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of theinvention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoingdescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of thepresent invention should not be limited by any of the above-describedexemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with thefollowing claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

It should also be understood that when introducing elements of thepresent invention in the claims or in the above description of exemplaryembodiments of the invention, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and“having” are intended to be open-ended and mean that there may beadditional elements other than the listed elements. Additionally, theterm “portion” should be construed as meaning some or all of the item orelement that it qualifies. Moreover, use of identifiers such as first,second, and third should not be construed in a manner imposing anyrelative position or time sequence between limitations. Still further,the order in which the steps of any method claim that follows arepresented should not be construed in a manner limiting the order inwhich such steps must be performed, unless such an order is inherent.

1. A tent comprising: a pliable fabric portion, the fabric portioncomprising a base having corners; an upper pole hub; a plurality ofadjustable tent pole assemblies that can be adjusted between fullyextended and collapsed configurations, each of the pole assemblieshaving an upper end connected to the pole hub and a lower end that isconfigured and adapted to releasably connect to a respective one of thecorners of the fabric portion, the pole assemblies and the pole hubcollectively being configured and adapted to suspend the fabric portiontherefrom when the lower ends of the pole assemblies are connected tothe corners of the fabric portion; and a plurality of slip members, eachof the slip members being connected to the fabric portion and slideablyconnected to a respective one of the pole assemblies, each of the poleassemblies being configured and adapted such that the slip member canslide only along a portion of the pole assembly, the slip members andthe pole assemblies being configured and adapted to spread the cornersof the fabric portion apart from each other as the pole assemblies arebeing adjusted from the collapsed configuration to the fully extendedconfiguration.
 2. A tent in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tentcomprises a plurality of connection mechanisms, each of the connectionmechanisms comprises a pole end cap and a capture member, the capturemember comprises a keyhole opening having a large portion and a slottedportion that collectively form the keyhole opening, the pole end cap isconfigured to be adapted to pass at least partially into the keyholeopening through the large portion of the keyhole opening and tothereafter pass into the slotted portion of the keyhole opening in amanner such that the pole cap cannot be removed from the capture memberwithout first passing the pole cap from the slotted portion of thekeyhole opening and back into the large portion of the keyhole opening,each of the pole caps is fixed to the lower end of a respective one ofthe pole assemblies, each of the capture members is fixed to arespective one of the corners of the fabric portion, and each of thepole assemblies is releasably connected to a respective one of thecorners of the fabric portion by a respective one of the pole caps and arespective one of the capture members.
 3. A tent in accordance withclaim 1 wherein each of the pole assemblies comprises multiple polesegments that are foldable relative to each other, a lowermost one ofthe pole segments of each pole assembly forms the lower end of therespective pole assembly, and the tent is configured such that each ofthe slip members can slide only along the lower pole segment of arespective one of the pole assemblies.
 4. A tent in accordance withclaim 3 wherein the pole segments of each of the pole assemblies areconnected to each other and foldable relative to each other via a shockcord.
 5. A tent in accordance with claim 3 wherein the pole segments ofeach of the pole assemblies are connected to each other and foldablerelative to each other via a fixed-plane hinge between each adjacentpair of the pole segments.
 6. A tent in accordance with claim 5 whereineach of the fixed-plane hinges is oriented to fold in a direction awayfrom the fabric portion of the tent.
 7. A tent comprising: a pliablefabric portion, the fabric portion comprising a base having corners; anupper pole hub; a plurality of adjustable tent pole assemblies that canbe adjusted between fully extended and collapsed configurations, each ofthe pole assemblies having an upper end connected to the pole hub and alower end that is configured and adapted to releasably connect to arespective one of the corners of the fabric portion, the pole assembliesand the pole hub collectively being configured and adapted to suspendthe fabric portion therefrom when the lower ends of the pole assembliesare connected to the corners of the fabric portion; and a plurality ofconnection mechanisms, each of the connection mechanisms comprising apole end cap and a capture member, the capture member comprising akeyhole opening having a large portion and a slotted portion thatcollectively form the keyhole opening, the pole end cap being configuredto be adapted to pass at least partially into the keyhole openingthrough the large portion of the keyhole opening and to thereafter passinto the slotted portion of the keyhole opening in a manner such thatthe pole cap cannot be removed from the capture member without firstpassing the pole cap from the slotted portion of the keyhole opening andback into the large portion of the keyhole opening, each of the polecaps being fixed to the lower end of a respective one of the poleassemblies, each of the capture members being fixed to a respective oneof the corners of the fabric portion, each of the pole assemblies beingreleasably connectable to a respective one of the corners of the fabricportion by a respective one of the pole caps and a respective one of thecapture members.
 8. A tent in accordance with claim 7 wherein the eachof the pole assemblies comprises multiple pole segments that arefoldable relative to each other, a lowermost one of the pole segments ofeach pole assembly forms the lower end of the respective pole assembly,the tent comprises a plurality of slip members, each of the slip membersis connected to the fabric portion and slideably connected to arespective one of the pole assemblies, each of the pole assemblies isconfigured and adapted such that the slip member can slide only alongthe lower pole segment of a respective one of the pole assemblies, andthe slip members and the pole assemblies are configured and adapted tospread the corners of the fabric portion apart from each other as thepole assemblies are being adjusted from the collapsed configuration tothe fully extended configuration.
 9. A tent in accordance with claim 8wherein the pole segments of each of the pole assemblies are connectedto each other and foldable relative to each other via a shock cord. 10.A tent in accordance with claim 9 wherein the pole segments of each ofthe pole assemblies are connected to each other and foldable relative toeach other via a fixed-plane hinge between each adjacent pair of thepole segments.
 11. A tent in accordance with claim 10 wherein each ofthe fixed-plane hinges is oriented to fold in a direction away from thefabric portion of the tent.